Incredible work from vocalist Milton Suggs – a jazz singer with a really rich new style! Suggs is unlike anyone else we can think of – but he’s also got a vibe that takes us back to some of our most inspirational singers of the 70s – cats like Mark Murphy, Jon Lucien, Andy Bey, and other one-of-a-kind artists – the kind that blow you away when you first hear them, then keep on holding your ears for years to come! There’s definitely a jazz approach to Milton’s singing, but other righteous elements bubble forth strongly too – and given that most of the music and lyrics were written by Suggs, the record has a deeply personal voice that’s quite different than the usual jazz vocal outing.

The set’s the sort that makes us proud to share a city with a talent this large – and titles include “Fantasy For Two”, “Seize The Moment”, “Not Forgotten”, “We’ll See”, “My Last Goodbye”, “Your Smile”, “Hope”, and “JL’s Blues”. —Dusty Groove America, Inc.

What happens when you put four, world class musicians together in the studio with no preconceived agenda? One Take is the exciting answer. Volume Four of the One Take series captures the heart and soul of world class musicians Joey DeFrancesco, Vito Rezza, Robi Botos, and Phil Dwyer as they share the magic of a first take.

It’s jazz at its finest, and a must for any jazz enthusiast! No rehearsals, no overdubs, no edits just raw performances in One Take!

The Tide Has Changed is the sixth album of the Orient House Ensemble, led by the Israeli altoist Gilad Atzmon, formed a decade ago and named in honor of the headquarters of the Palestinian people in Jerusalem.

“Ten years ago I realized that beauty is the way forward”, Atzmon writes in his sleeve notes. And listening to his solo work on the title song after the hokum of the introductory track, you recognize too how the sheer beauty of his sounds – a unique amalgam of Hebraic, Arabic and jazz traditions – has gained authority, sonic unity and huge emotional depth during those years.

Possessing patience, self-awareness, and experience; knowing when to step out as a leader, is essential for a jazz musician. David Cook, originally from Columbus, OH, is an artist armed with these qualities in abundance, and combining them with an undeniably massive talent as a pianist/composer, allows his artistry to radiate beautifully through every note on his debut recording, Pathway. The recording, featuring bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Mark Ferber, was lovingly produced by fellow pianist and mentor, Bruce Barth, was released on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records on December 7, 2010. Continue reading →